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Prison Suicides in Irish Republic (1)

01 January 1991

Prison Suicides in Irish Republic
artdoc December=1991

The Report of the Advisory Group on Prison Deaths in the Irish
Republic was published on 10th October. The Group was established
by Minister for Justice, Mr. Burke, following a number of
suicides in Mountjoy prison in 1989. Between 1975 and 1990 there
have been 23 suicides and 10 deaths from drug overdoses or
`natural causes'. Comparing the suicide rate with British
figures, the report points out that the Republic has double the
England and Wales prison suicide rate, and a rate which is 85%
higher than the Scottish one.
Most of the suicides occur during `lock-up' (8pm to 8am) and
are carried out by men under the age of 25, although there have
been female suicides and the Report notes `there is a relatively
high level of self-mutilation among female prisoners'. Three-
quarters of the recorded suicides were carried out by prisoners
hanging themselves from cell window bars and the problem is
evidently concentrated in Mountjoy jail, built in l850. Remand
prisoners accounted for 35% of the suicides.
The Report makes 57 recommendations. It suggests that special
precautions be taken with remand prisoners, such as increasing
the availability of medical staff and the eventual building of
a separate remand unit. Prisoners thought to be at risk should
be kept in cells without window bars. The report also complains
about the overcrowding in Mountjoy, poor sanitation and the lack
of prison work. Facilities for `psychiatrically disturbed'
prisoners need to be developed, says the Report, in such a way
that they can be accommodated in a ward setting under 24 hour
observation.
Irish Times, 11.10.91.